NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

By Brandon Petersen

After years of knocking on the door, the Westcliff Surf Team has finally broken through.

The Warriors captured the first National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) Collegiate National Championship in program history on Sunday at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point, finishing with 153 points to edge perennial powerhouse Point Loma, which finished second with 139 points.

The championship represents the culmination of years of growth for a program that has steadily established itself among the nation's elite collegiate surf teams. Following multiple close calls in recent seasons, Westcliff finally reached the summit, delivering a historic victory at one of the sport's most prestigious events.

Founded in 1978, the NSSA is one of the nation's premier competitive surfing organizations, hosting more than 80 events annually while requiring participants to maintain academic eligibility. The organization's annual National Championships are widely regarded as one of the highest-profile events in amateur and collegiate surfing, bringing together many of the top surfers in the country.

For head coach Lucas Taub, the moment was years in the making.

"This win meant everything, everything to me, everything to our team," Taub said. "We had a tough one at state champs, and we didn't really get defeated from it. We just went to the drawing board, and we worked on what we needed to work on, and we put in the time."

The response to that disappointment became one of the defining stories of Westcliff's championship run.

Taub and his coaching staff returned to work immediately, focusing on preparation, confidence and creating the right mindset heading into nationals.

"We had over 12 practices just at Salt Creek in the last two to three weeks," Taub said. "The preparation was there and it was mostly about putting these kids in the right mental space. I know my team has the talent, but it's about putting them in the right headspace to know that they can do what they can do and show their full potential."

The result was a championship performance that featured star power, depth and an unwavering commitment to team success.

Leading the way was Taylor Stacy, who cemented her place among the most accomplished surfers in collegiate competition history by capturing her third consecutive NSSA National Championship.

Stacy dominated the women's division from start to finish. She won every heat she entered, advancing through the opening rounds, quarterfinals and semifinals before posting a 15.10 score in the championship final to secure another national crown.

"Taylor is unbelievable," Taub said. "She had a great first couple events to start the season and then had a couple tough ones. But for her to come back and win her third consecutive national title back-to-back-to-back is massive. It just shows who she is as a person and a surfer."

Taub said Stacy's championship run was the product of both talent and determination.

"She knew she had the talent to do it," Taub said. "She just needed to find the opportunity and surf the waves to her potential. That's what I've been telling her. Taylor, you have all the talent. Be confident in yourself.

"You're the one to beat here."

While Stacy's performance headlined the weekend, she was far from alone.

The Warriors placed two additional surfers on the national podium in the men's division.

Titus Santucci delivered one of the strongest performances of the event, advancing through five consecutive rounds before finishing as the NSSA National Runner-Up.

The freshman opened nationals with three consecutive first-place finishes before continuing his run through the quarterfinals and semifinals to reach the championship final.

Taub credited Santucci's preparation and competitive mindset for helping fuel Westcliff's championship push.

"Titus was a huge addition to the team," Taub said. "He came on strong as a rookie, made the national final and is a massive team player as well. His preparation is second to none. He's an athlete. He really wants it."

Jackson Taylor also delivered one of the defining performances of the championship.

Taylor posted a perfect 10.00 wave during opening-round competition before advancing all the way to the men's final and securing a third-place national finish.

Round after round, Taylor continued to produce elite scores, posting marks of 17.83, 17.50, 16.67 and 16.97 while proving himself among the country's best collegiate surfers.

"Jackson showed how good of a surfer he is," Taub said. "We all knew he had the talent, but for him to show up here and post some of the highest scores of the whole event and make the national final was incredible. He's put in a lot of work and I'm just super proud of him."

Westcliff's depth was equally important.

Jordy Collins advanced to the men's quarterfinals after recording three consecutive first-place finishes to open the event. A four-year leader of the program, Collins' impact extended well beyond the competition area.

Taub described the team captain as one of the foundational figures in the growth of Westcliff Surf.

"Jordy has been a great leader and an inspiration to a lot of these young kids," Taub said. "He set the foundation here. He really has been a catalyst for others joining the team as well."

Niyah Rosen battled through injury earlier in the season before advancing to the women's quarterfinals at nationals, while Annabella Lopez advanced into the second round of competition.

Taub praised Rosen for her perseverance and leadership throughout the year.

"She had an injury and had to bounce back," Taub said. "For her to show up at nationals and make the quarterfinals was massive. She's been dealing with a lot, and for her to just show up for the team like that is huge."

Poakalani Rangel contributed to the growth of Westcliff's women's program throughout the season, while Lopez brought the positive vibes and leadership to the team environment.

Newcomers to the men's side this year, Ryder Smith and Jeremiah Lantz also contributed to the national championship tally as they have done consistently all season.

Team veteran Blaze Roche, who was perhaps Westcliff's most-improved surfer this season, advanced through multiple rounds before narrowly missing out on a quarterfinal berth.

Taub said Roche's development has been one of the most rewarding parts of his coaching career.

"Blaze is one of those kids that has really grown as a person and matured over the years," Taub said. "He's a huge team player and a huge part of our success."

Lantz also earned praise from his coach.

"Jeremiah has been a great addition to this team," Taub said. "I've watched JJ grow in his surfing and who he is as a person this year. It's been really cool to see."

Westcliff's longboard competitors also helped contribute valuable points toward the team championship.

Jacob Hardy and Kylan Crapenhoft both advanced to the semifinals in the longboard division, providing critical depth in the overall team standings.

Taub credited Crapenhoft's commitment to the program and Hardy's continued improvement as important pieces of the championship effort.

"Kylan's really turned into one of my closest friends over the last four years," Taub said. "We did that whole East Coast trip together, man. He drops anything for this team. The guy's epic. He's come a long way in his school, who he is as a person, his longboarding, and we're just super proud of him and excited to see what he does in the real world."

The championship marks the latest milestone in a banner year for Westcliff Surf. Earlier this season, the program was featured by Fox News Los Angeles as the Warriors continued their rise within collegiate surfing. Months later, that momentum culminated at Salt Creek, where Westcliff finally secured the national title that had eluded the program for years.

The historic achievement was witnessed firsthand by Westcliff University President and CEO Dr. Anthony Lee, who attended the final day of competition with his family and watched the Warriors secure the championship.

"I feel incredibly fortunate to have witnessed it in person," Lee said. "What I'll remember most wasn't just the championship itself -- it was the emotion of the moment. Watching our student-athletes, coaches, families and supporters collectively hold their breath, and then erupt in celebration, captured everything that makes collegiate athletics special. This national championship is a testament to the dedication, perseverance, and excellence of our Surf team and coaching staff, and all of Westcliff is incredibly proud of what they accomplished."

For Taub, the title represented far more than a trophy.

Years of recruiting, practices, travel, mentorship and belief culminated in one unforgettable weekend on the sands of Dana Point.

"I lost sleep the last three days just thinking about this," Taub said. "I put every single calculation into the book. There's so much that goes into this, and it's not just me. It's the whole team and every single kid that put on a jersey played a huge role in this win."

The championship victory came against a familiar rival in Point Loma, a program that has long been one of the standards in collegiate surfing.

"It's always fun battling out Point Loma," Taub said. "It's a healthy rivalry. We love going back and forth with them."

Ultimately, however, Taub said the championship was about far more than standings or trophies.

"It was a full team win," Taub said. "Everyone fought for each other. Everyone had each other's backs. Everyone was doing it for the team. And that's when good results come. When we're fighting for each other and not just for ourselves, good things will happen."

As the emotions of the weekend continued to settle in, the significance of the moment remained impossible to ignore.

"I'm getting teary-eyed just talking about this again," Taub said. "It all just keeps hitting me in waves. This was massive for us, massive for me as a coach, massive for our team. We're showing that we're here to play and we're here to stay.

"I put my blood, sweat and tears into this program and to come up with the national title just put the icing on the cake of an incredible season. Most rewarding feeling in the world."